Boiler-feeder.



l. A. GUNN.

BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2|, m4.

Patentd Dec. 12, 1916.

1m; Monk's nuns co Pmrm umo wAsmrm-mm n c J' OHN A. GUNN, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

BOILER-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 19116.

Application filed September 21, 1914. Serial No. 862,848.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN A. GUNN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Boiler-Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a boiler feeder of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly it is my object to provide a boiler feeder adapted for feeding water to a steam boiler with a minimum use of power for operating the feeder, and with a minimum loss of steam from the boiler.

Still a further object is to provide such a boiler feeder of extremely simple and inexpensive as well as novel construction of the type adapted to feed water to a boiler without the use of the ordinary injector.

Still a further object is to provide such a boiler feeder of the kind in which the volume of steam is taken from the boiler and an equal volume of water is injected into the boiler, in which feeder the steam removed from the boiler is employed for heating the water about to be supplied to the boiler. 7

Another object is to provide a boiler feeder of the general type mentioned, in which the steam removed from the boiler is largely condensed so that the water condensation may be once more fed into the boiler.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a shell which may be mounted in any suitable place with relation to the boiler. The shell communicates at its lower end with a water carrying tube 11, adapted to be connected suitably with the boiler. Communicating with the interior of the shell 10 at a point above the bottom thereof, is a steam carrying tube 12 adapted to communicate in a suitable way with the boiler at a proper point to receive steam. The top of the shell 10 is provided with openings in which are mounted two parallel cylinders 14 and 15. The cylinders 14 and 15 extend downwardly in the shell to points below the partition 13, and to points above the shell 10.

Above the shell 10 is a water tank 16, into which the upper ends of the cylinders 14: and 15 extend. The cylinders 14 and 15 are provided in their walls near the upper and lower ends with pluralities of openings 17. The lower portion of the tank 16 is provided with a supply passage 18, formed at the end of which is a valve seat 19. Secured onto the lower end of the passage 18 is a fitting 20.

Pivoted to the wall of the tank 16 or the interior thereof, is an arm 21. Pivoted to the arm 21 near the center thereof, is a stem 22, which extends downwardly through the passage 18, and is operatively connected at its lower end with the valve 23.

The end of the arm 21 farthest from the wall of the tank 16 is suitably connected with a float 24:. Rotatably mounted in the walls of the tank 16 is a shaft 25, on one end of which outside the tank is fixed a crank arm 26.

Mounted on the shaft 25 inside the tank 10 is an arm 27, one end of which stands above the cylinder 14, and the other end of which stands above the cylinder 15.

It will be seen that by imparting a reciprocating motion to the crank arm 26 the arm '27 will be rocked, for alternately raising and lowering its respective ends.

Within the cylinders 14 and 15 are vertical stems 28. Mounted on each end of each stem 28 is a piston 29, having suitable piston rings 30. Links 31 are pivoted at their respective ends to the upper pistons 29 and to the respective ends of the arm 27.

The construction and relative sizes of the parts hereinbefore described are such that the stroke of the piston rod or stem 28 is of proper length so that at the lower limit of the stroke the lower piston 29 is below the upper level of the lower openings 17, and

the upper piston 29 is below the lower level of the upper openings 17, while when the pistons are at the upper limit of their movement the lower piston is above the upper level of the lower openings 17 and the upper piston is above the lower level of the upper openings 17 In the practical operation ,of my improved boiler feeder, assuming that the device is properly installed, the arm 26 is given a reciprocating motion from any suitable source of power.

When the piston in either cylinder is at the lowest limit of its stroke, water, by reason of its weight is discharged from said cylinder and replaced by steam, then when the pistons ascend to the upper limit of their stroke, water by reason of its weight descends from the tank into the cylinder, displacing the steam which escapes into said tank where it is rapidly'condensed and its heat units transferred to the water.

" Then the position of the pistons in the respective cylinders is reversed, water is discharged from the cylinder containing it into the chamber 32, and steam is discharged from the other cylinder into the water in the tank 16. The escaping steam serves to heat'the water in the tank 16, and is largely condensed in its passage through the water. In order to prevent such an accumulation of steam in the tank 15 as might possibly impair the working of the device, a steam discharge pipe 33 is provided. On account ofthe float 24 and the valve 19,.the water in the tank 16 will remain at substantially the same level.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my improved boiler feederis a very simple and inexpensive construction, and that it may be readily and easily attached toanyiordinary steam boiler. Where my feeder is used the user of the engines saves the expense of original purchaseof an injector, and also a large part of the expense of the upkeep of the injector. Where the ordinary injector is employed a certain amount of power is necessary to operate the injector in order to force water .into the boiler against the pressure of the steam therein With my device much less power is needed, and therefore my device makes it possible to save the expense of oppower necessary tooperate them is reduced erating the ordinary injector.

The pressure from the boiler against the pistons in the respective cylinders is substantially equal, so that the only power necessary to operate my improved feeder is that required to overcome the inertia and friction of the parts. Z i

It will be noticed that the stroke of the pistons is comparatively short, so that the to a minimum. 7 V

' Where the ordinary injector is employed it is a factjthat on account of th construction andoperation of the injector it is impossible to put hot water into the boiler. It of course followsfrom the 'fact that very hot water can not be used with the ordinary injector, that the user of the boiler is subject to the expense of heating the water in the boiler, and also the consequent reduction of power resulting from injecting water into the'boiler'at aieomparatively low temperature; "Where'my improved boiler device isemployed the water in the tank 16 may be heated to any degree in any suitable way, and will be heated to some extent by the superheated steam passing from the feeder cylinders. In this connection attentionis again called to the fact that most of the steam which is taken from the boiler will be 0011- .densed within the tank 16, so that comparatively little water will be lost.

The fact that the steam escapes through the openings 17 results in the breaking up of the steam into small particles, which small particles passing upwardly through the water in the tank 16 give up their heat more rapidly than if the steam was discharged from the cylinder 15 or 14 through the single opening. This breaking up of the steam particles results in the condensation of all or nearly all the steam within the tank 16, and the consequent saving of the heat which is imparted to the water in the tank, and also in the saving of the water condensation.

It is obvious that only a comparatively small amount of steam will be removed from the boiler, insomuch as the volume of steam removed equals the volume of water put into 7 the boiler.

Changes may be made in my improved boiler feeder without departing from its essential features, and it is my intent to cover by this application any such changes in the construction of my device as may be included within the scope of my claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of vertical, hollow cylinders each having a plurality of openings in its upper wall and in its lower wall, a pair of pistons in each cylinder connected together, and so spaced that when the pistons are at their upward limit of movement the upper p1ston is above the upper openings and the lower piston is above the lower opening, and when at their lower limit of movement the upper piston is below the upper openings and the lower piston is below the lower openings, and when in an intermediate position both pistons are between the upper and lower openings. 1.1 5

2. In a device of the class described, a shell, a. tube communicating with the lower interior of the shell and designed to communicate with the boiler, a tube communieating with the shell at a point above the bottom thereof and designed to communicate with the boiler, a pair of parallel vertical cylinders mounted in the upper portion of said shell and extending to a point above the shell, a tank surrounding the upper ends of said'cylinders, piston rods mounted in said cylinders, pistons on the opposite ends of the rod in each cylinder, and

a reciprocating lever operatively connected with the pistons 1n each cylinder and pivoted at a point between them, said cylinders being provided with openings at their upper and lower ends adapted to be passed by the upper and lower pistons respectively in each cylinder during a complete stroke of the pistons in each cylinder.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of vertical cylinders arranged in parallel relation, the lower ends of said cylinders being adapted to be in communication with the boiler, a supply tank communicating with the upper ends of said cylinders, a piston stem in each cylinder, pistons at each end of each stem designed to reciprocate in said cylinders, and means for operatively connecting said pistons for alternate reciprocation.

4. In a device of the class described, a pair of vertical cylinders arranged in parallel relation, the lower ends of said cylinders being adapted to be in communication with the boiler, a tank communicating with the upper ends of said cylinders, a piston stem in each cylinder, pistons at each end of each stem designed to reciprocate in said cylinders, means for operatively connecting said stems for alternate reciprocation of said pistons in the respective cylinders said cylinders being provided with openings in their walls near each end, said parts being arranged so that in one of their positions, the pistons of one cylinder are both below the openings of the cylinder, and in another position the pistons are both between the openings of the cylinder and in still another position both pistons are above the openings of the cylinder.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 19, 1914.

JOHN A. GUNN. Witnesses:

J. MAHER, A. SHERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

